JJakucyk

So I've been on a new local racing team since its inception just a little over a year ago. I hadn't really thought a whole lot about racing at first, but I rode with the people a lot, and they seemed to want me to join, so after some hemming and hawing I figured why not. Since then I've continued doing several of the group rides, and I still ride around by myself a lot too. Just the other day though, I finally got my official USCF license in the mail.

Why a poseur you ask? Well, I don the full kit at every opportunity (jersey, shorts, windbreaker jacket, socks, and this year we're getting gloves too), so I certainly look the part clothing-wise. It's also very nice gear (Castelli/Squadra), so I like it more than most of the other stuff I have. I'm now an official cat. 5 with a team (ok, club technically) affiliation too. The thing is, I really suck.

I did my first race last October. What was scheduled to be a 42 mile cat. 4/5 road race got shortened to 28 miles, and I still only hung on to the pack for the first 5. Don't get me wrong, that was a fun 5 miles, but I got yo-yoed out the back at one of the turns after falling farther and farther back in the pack. I didn't place, finishing about 10 minutes behind the leaders, but at least I finished, and I wasn't last. Nevertheless, had it been the full 42 miles I most likely would've bailed. I was hurting so bad that once I finished I pulled over to the side and basically collapsed on the ground for 20 minutes. I hurt for at least 24 hours after that, bit I didn't even manage to break a 20 mph average (came within two-tenths).

Most, if not all, of our training rides see me getting dropped at some point, especially if there are hills involved. Did I mention I weigh 240 lbs? Why don't we have a clydesdale category for road races anyway? Usually I'm needing to take advantage of urban shortcuts, or out-and-back rides to hook back up with everybody. I'm certainly a huge amount better than I was when I started riding again 3 years ago, but many times I think to myself, "why on earth am I wearing this stuff and riding with these people?" I actually feel quite embarrassed sometimes when zig-zagging up a hill at 5 mph or struggling to chase down the pack on some country road while wearing the team kit.

Call me oversensitive, but I sure do feel like a poseur sometimes.

derath

Hey,

You are on a team. You have raced at least once. I think that negates Poseur.

-D

Namenda

Exactly. And it sounds like you enjoy it, too. How can that be wrong?

patentcad

Tsk, tsk. Silly weenies.

We are ALL poseurs, each and every one. Revel in your poseurosity.

DrPete 

Because that's how you get better.

Quit thinking you're a poseur and ride with your team. End of thread.

JJakucyk

I think I'm gonna go with this one.

patentcad

And of course at time like this it's important to remember Patentcad's #1 Rule of Cycling:

It is better to look like a pro than to ride like a pro.

Hmmmmm..... maybe some of these amateur racers take this stuff a BIT too seriously. You THINK?

cat4ever

I think I know what team you are on, and it's a large one at that. I am sure there are others on your team that either get dropped or don't go to team rides for fear of getting dropped. Maybe you could do your own unofficial team "B" rides?

I hope your team mates don't leave you when you get dropped. When I did rides with my previous team, those who did the dropping would slow down at the top of the hills so those who got dropped can catch back up. It's bad form if they leave you in the dust. Come to think of it, your team leader isn't exactly a hill speciallist (a cat 4 crit speciallist, yes)

As for that cat 4/5 road race (Fallen Leaf), that was probably not fair to you and other new cat 5's as it was won by your cat 4 sandbagger crit speciallist and had several people on the cusp of being cat 3's who should have done the 3/4 race instead. Combine all that with the shortening of the race (I think our race was only 35 miles or something) the speed naturally will go up.

For what it's worth, I wear my team kit on every ride.

JJakucyk

Gee, was it THAT obvious? Kippy may not be a hill specialist, but he's still a lot better than I am.

So what team are YOU on?

chipcom 

You're only a poseur if the only place you ride to in your full-kitted splendor is the local Starbucks, usually via a MUP, where you proceed to sit around drinking lattes with other poseurs and exchange hearty 'you look maaaaavolous' s until it's time to ride home.

cat4ever

Team Dayton last year, Project Velo this year.

caloso

You have a racing license. You belong to a race team. And you've been in at least one race. Sounds to me like you a bike racer.

daytonian

Is Chris riding for them or did he stay at TD?

JJakucyk

Project Velo?

blonduathlongrl

You're not a poseur.
You're someone who imagined himself being on a team, you got there, you're now realising what effort it will take to be exactly where you once saw yourself.
You're half way there, part of the glory will be that noone handled this to you, but that you went after it and got it yourself.
So you collapsed, that's only a reminder that you dont go after easy goals
Fear can be a drive.

cslone

I stayed Bill. Bryan left us like a bad sex partner, just lying there wondering when he'll call.

zimbo

I believe in using your failures as motivations to do better. You appear to know that you're going to have to increase your speed/power and decrease your weight to become competitive and you seem to have the sort of attitude that will help you get there. Now go make it happen!

--Steve

Dubbayoo

I've done one crit in my life and the only reason I can say I wasn't dropped is because technically, I was never 'in' the pack long enough to call myself dropped from it. I started behind and stayed behind the whole race.

cat4ever

Brand new team for 2007

superdex

hell, that gives me a whole new perspective on whether I join a team and race. For that, sir, you are not a posuer. You may still enjoy your OCPness, though

dl613

I agree with everyone. I'd rather see someone putting out the effort and getting dropped (happens to all of us) not to mention enjoying it rather than seeing your bike on ebay or collecting dust. Kit or no kit, if you race and train, you're a racer to me.

Oh, and you're not a poseur if you're concerned about it. A true poseur wouldn't care, he'd just sip his latte (as posted above) while using his $5k bike as a foot rest.

Keep it up and good luck this season.

JJakucyk

I've never had a cup of coffee in my life, let alone a latte, cappuccino, mocha, etc., so my application to the OCP club was rejected.

sverrefehn

Hey man, at least you finished that race. You did better than me. i got caught up in that wreck while jockeying for the sprint, broke my wrist, and never crossed the finish line. The lovely Admin was the first to come to our assistance which was appreciated. But back to the point, you finished, which is the first step to getting better. Racing is a great way to get in shape and lose weight. It will hurt, but it works. Just never give up.
Say hi to Burkey and Moorehead for me.

DrPete 

You guys are making me miss Cincy.... never thought I'd say that! Plenty of rides along the river on my red Bianchi during college... Definitely don't miss finishing up the Straight St. hill...

sverrefehn

Dang Pete, Straight Street is brutal. I forgot that you had spent some time here. You must have been at UC if your rides ended on Straight.